Dickinson Drug Kingpin Windy Lynn Panzo Sentenced to 25 Years

GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Windy Lynn Panzo, the Dickinson drug queenpin, has been locked away for 25 years for her relentless distribution of methamphetamine. The 49-year-old’s reign of terror over local streets ended in a Bismarck courtroom on May 10, 2017, where she faced Chief US District Judge Daniel L Hovland.

It all started on October 12, 2015, when Panzo was stopped by law enforcement in Dickinson. A routine traffic stop revealed not just drugs but also a loaded pistol and drug paraphernalia—a clear sign of her sinister trade. But it wasn’t the end for Panzo; she was caught again just nine days later with more contraband.

Panzo, who already had a record for previous felony convictions, admitted to distributing over 50 pounds of meth. The sentence handed down by Judge Hovland included 25 years in prison, 5 years of supervised release, and a $400 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

But Panzo was just one link in a tangled web of crime. Her co-defendants, John Carlton Roberts, Boyd Dale Padgett, and Arrah Marie Lane, all faced their own penalties for their roles. Roberts was sentenced to 10 years, Padgett got 15 years, and Lane received 1 year and 8 months.

This case, a testament to the relentless efforts of law enforcement, was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Southwest Narcotics Task Force. Special Assistant US Attorney Dawn Deitz led the prosecution, ensuring justice for those affected by Panzo’s drug-dealing spree.